Qatar Financial Market Forum focuses on alternative assets and sustainability

The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), in association with Bloomberg Intelligence (BI), Wednesday hosted the third edition of Qatar Financial Market Forum, focusing on regional trends, alternative assets and sustainability, in view of rapid changes reshaping the regional investment landscape.

The event, themed ‘Public Growth and Private Capital’, gathered leaders and key stakeholders from private companies, government entities, and financial institutions in Qatar and across the world, and offered an opportunity to explore the latest advancements and trends in regional markets, alternative assets, and sustainable investments.

The forum served as a vibrant hub for insight and collaboration.

Industry experts, including analysts from BI and the QFC, delivered engaging presentations and participated in insightful panel discussions, shedding light on the evolution of regional public and private markets.

"Our recent analysis shows foreign investors' purchases of listed equities in the three largest GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) countries (Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar) accounted for $750mn of average daily value trading (ADVT) in 2024 up 57% on 2023. This trading activity translates into 30% of ADVT of the three countries with a total ADVT of $2.5bn in 2024,” said Nicholas Philips, Market Structure Research, Analyst, BI.

The sessions highlighted advancements in trading infrastructure, the rapid growth of private markets and alternative assets, and insights into the growing regional carbon and climate investment segment.

The opening panel, titled ‘Middle East Capital Markets: Evolving Flows, Strategies, and Structures’, explored the interplay between capital flows, trading infrastructure, and financial institution resilience, offering valuable insights into the region’s evolving financial ecosystem.

The second panel, titled ‘Unlocking Alternative Investments: The Rise of Private Credit and Private Equity’, shifted the focus to the booming private markets sector.

The panellists examined the expanding role of private credit, venture capital, and private equity in reshaping the regional investment landscape.

A special interview on ‘Investing in Carbon’ with Dr Alexandra Soezer, Director and Partner at Rasmal Ventures Climate Fund, discussed the critical importance of climate-related strategies, showcasing their transformative potential in redefining investment strategies while also achieving climate targets.

This session highlighted Qatar’s commitment to fostering sustainability, emphasising the nation’s progress in creating a business-friendly environment aligned with its Third National Development Strategy (NDS3).

The forum included a fireside chat with Doha Bank Group chief executive officer Sheikh Adulrahman bin Fahad bin Faisal al-Thani, titled “Doha Bank’s Transformation Strategy and Vision 2030”, and another one titled "Leadership Perspectives on Innovation and Resilience” featuring Mark Coombs, chief executive officer of UK-based Ashmore Group.

The forum explored sports investments, in a virtual interview with David Sugden, chief executive officer of Premier Padel and Legal and Communications Director at Qatar Sports Investments.